Philly Parks: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

In Philadelphia, park love knows no bounds. Unseasonable rain didn’t stop hundreds of people from coming out to clean up their favorite neighborhood green as part of the city's biannual Love Your Park bonanza, which ended on Sunday.

With more than 100 city parks hosting volunteer cleanups and special events, the week-long celebration organized by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Fairmount Parks Conservancy brought out folks to love on parks in all sorts of ways. While some people chose to spend a day transforming one of Wissahickon Valley's peskiest plants into a delicious foraged snack, others pedaled through parks or showed off dance moves at the local playground. Scroll down for a peep at the action.

Historic RittenhouseTown, the first paper mill in British North America, is tucked off of Lincoln Drive, is on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated National Historic Landmark District. The site still has six of the original 45 buildings, which was established in 1690, WHYY reported.

Historic RittenhouseTown at 206 Lincoln Drive. Credit: Wojo

Historic Rittenhouse. Credit: Wo Jo Photos.

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In South Philadelphia, a coalition of organizations celebrated Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month and a South Philadelphia gem, Mifflin Square Park.

Over in West Philadelphia, Streets Dept’s Conrad Benner points out one of Philly’s best parks up above, at Cira Green. In University City, where new developments make green space on the ground floor increasingly rare, developer Brandywine Realty Trust took advantage of rooftop green space, offering reprise from the busy street traffic and, according to Benner when he laid eyes Philly’s first elevated park, “quite possibly one of the BEST views of the Center City skyline.”

Cira Green + Center City skyline. Credit: Conrad Benner/Streets Dept

Views from Cira Green. Credit: Conrad Benner/Streets Dept

Cira Green is 1.25 acres of green-roof with amazing views of the Center City skyline. Credit: Conrad Benner/Streets Dept

Bike and pedestrian trail at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. Credit: Wo Jo Photos.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. Credit: Wo Jo Photos.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, the country's first urban refuge. Credit: Wo Jo Photos.

Turtle at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. Credit: Wo Jo Photos.

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About the author

Diana Lu, Community Engagement Editor

Diana runs PlanPhilly’s community outreach and engagement online and in real life. She has spent more than ten years in the non-profit and public sectors working on urban development issues including environmental justice, design-based manufacturing, and community and economic development. Prior to joining PlanPhilly, Diana worked as the Director of Partnerships and Outreach for 10,000 Small Businesses, a public-private initiative focused strengthening local businesses through revenue generation and local job creation. Follow Diana on instagram @dianaluwho and email her at dlu@whyy.org.